Mahlon loomis



(No Model.)

MA LOOMIS. Convertible Vailise,

No. 241,387. Patented May 10, I881.

[WITNESSES %rji I INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PhctwLithographur, Washington. D.,C.

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

MAHLON-LOOMIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

, CONVERTIBLE VALlSE.

SPECIFIOATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 241,387, dated Ma 10, 71881. Application filed March .2, [881. (Nomedeh) of Washington city,District ofOolumbia, have invented a new and Improved GonvertibleVa- 'lise; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide for use of travelers an improved form of valise which shall not only be adaptcd for containing apparel, toilet articles, 850., like an ordinary valise or traveling-bag, but also for suspension vertically from the back of a car-seat or other support,inwhich position certain folding panels or shelves may be lowered for use in taking lunch, or playing games, &c.

I will proceed to describe the construction of the valise by reference to accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure] is a plan view of the valise open and the panels closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the valise open and the panels lowered to horizontal position. Fig. 4is a perspective view of the valise closed. Fig. 5 is a detail section, showing the form of hinge or joint between the two parts of the panels.

The frame of the valise is formed of the two wood or metal rims or bows A A and an oblong piece, B. Said bows are jointed to opposite sides of piece B, which constitutes the bottom of the valise when the same is folded. A covering, 0, of cloth or leather, is attached to the bows A, and forms the flexible outer sides of the two main compartments of the valise.

To one end of each bow A is hinged a twopart jointed shelf or panel, D D, which may be constructed of thin plates of wood, metal, or any other preferred material having the requisite lightness,-rigidity, and strength. Each panel fits in the space inclosed by a bow, A. and the center piece, B, and its two parts, 1) D, are hinged together transversely of such space, so that the whole or only half of the respective panels may be opened, as occasion may require. Between the panels D D and the flexible sides 0 of the valise is sufficient space for reception of shirts, collars, or various other articles of clothing, and straps or bags may, if desired, be employed for confindown and placed in horizontal position.

1 ing such clothing so that it will not fall out when the valise is suspended vertically and the panels opened, as hereinafter described.

To the outer sides of each lower halt, l), of the respective panels is attached a box, tl, having a hinged cover or lid, and to each upper half, D, is attached a flexible receptacle or bag, (1. These may be utilized to hold books,

slippers, writing material,&c., and their form the end of the center piece, B, which, when turned down or opened, exposes a mirror, F, that is attached to the piece B, Fig. 3.

To one end and a portion of the side of each bow, A, is attached a thin wooden or metal strip, G, which is bent conformably to the bow and projects laterally inward. \Vhen the valise is folded (Fig. 4) these strips G and the outer end and sides of the boxes 01 meet, and thus form part of the protecting case or cover of the valise.

The upper and lower halves of each panel are provided with hinges, so constructed as to support them horizontally when no heavy weight is imposed on them.

This valise is utilized, like an ordinary one, for carrying the articles of clothing, toilet, 860. When opened, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it may be suspended verticallyas, for instance, from the back of a car-seat (not shown)by means of straps H, Fig. 1, passed around said back, and suitably attached to the ends of frame A A. Thus suspended it is directly in front of the seat occupied by the traveler, and either the whole or half of each panel maybe turned down for use. For example, inFig. 3 the whole of all these panels is shown turned In such case the free or outer edge of the pa-nels will rest on the front of the rear seat, and the form of hinge,-which is shown in Fig. 5, prevents thepanels from saggingor bending down in the middle. In this position the panels form practically a horizontal extension of such rear seat, and may be utilized in connection with it as a bed or couch, or for holding packages or articles of outer wearing apparel, &c.

In Figs.2 and 5 the upperha-lf, D,of apanel other and supports it in horizontal as shown and described.

is shown turned down in horizontal position to adapt it for'use in taking lunch, or for supporting books or various other objects or articles. The leaf D is self-supporting, a short rigid arm, 0, Fig. 5, being attached to the face of the lower portion, D, and extended laterally, so thatthepartDreststhereon,asshown. When the part D is turned up in vertical position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 5, this arm is covered by a strip, f, of flexible material, such, for instance, as enameled cloth or leather.

The valise may be conveniently hung open upon a wall or set open on a table, and thus utilized in an apartment as a dressing-case or ladys portable escritoire.

Any suitable form of lock and handle may be employed for securing and manually transporting the valise.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the valise frame, of a folding panel, constructed in two parts, connected by a hinge which allows the upper partto be turned down independently of the position,

2. The combination, with the valise-frame A, of the folding panels, which are hinged to the end portions of said frame, and each constructed of two parts, connected by a hinge that allows the upper portion to be turned outward, but prevents folding inward, so that an entire panel will maintain a horizontal position when supported at its ends, as specified.

3. The combination of the rigid bows A A and centerpiece, B, of the folding panels, which are hinged at one end of said bows, andmade in two parts, that are hinged together so that the upper half or the whole of a panel maybe opened and turned down into horizontal position, as shown and described.

4. In combination with the rigid bows A A and strips which are secured to one end and part of the side thereof, the folding panels, hinged to the opposite ends of the bows, and the boxes d, attached to the panels, as shown and described, whereby when the valise is closed the said strips and boxes form part of the inclosin g and protecting case of the valise,

as specified.

5. Theeombinatiomwiththeflatcenterpieoe, B, and bows A A, hinged thereto, of the middle panel, hinged as specified, and the panels I) D, located one on each side of the middle panel and hinged to the lower ends of the bows, all said panels being adapted to. open and be supported in horizontal position, as set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 24th day of February, 1881.

MAHLON LOOMIS.

Witnesses:

SoLoN (J. KEMON, GHAs. A. PETTIT. 

